Growing up in a very small town, making friends was an easy task. I pretty much had the same friends since birth (and I still love them all dearly to this day!) and we rarely ever even had a new transfer at our school. I also went to a fairly small university and played on the golf team, so I kept a tight circle of friends and we spent most of our time together. When I moved to Houston back in 2010, it was a very different experience than I'd ever had before. I'd never lived in a city anywhere close to the same size, and especially not one where I didn't know anyone besides my boyfriend at the time (hey, Z!). Zach introduced me to his work friends and while I enjoyed spending time with them, I still didn't feel like I really had any girlfriends I could be close to and hang out with. It took several years really, until a few months after Bear was born, that I decided to take the plunge and really try to make friends in the city. I hadn't been lonely at all up until that point- we were going through the engagement process, wedding process, honeymoon, and a big move, so I didn't think about it much honestly. But after having Bear, I was ready to get out and meet some mamas! And here are some of the best things I did:

1. Meetup App- This is probably the #1 aid in helping me make new friends in Houston. Late one night when Bear had just turned 3 months old, I got the idea that I wanted to join a playgroup. I wanted to make other mama friends and most of all, wanted Bear to be around some other babies. I searched online, found meetup.com, and immediately downloaded the app. I found a new playgroup in the area that was to meet the next afternoon and decided to give it a shot. The rest is history! That's been over 5 years ago and some of the mamas from that playgroup are still some of my very closest friends, and their kids are still some of Bear's best friends as well. What's great about meetup is that everything is tracked in the app- meetings are posted there as well as a chat with members. It's super convenient and a great way to find groups, even if you're not a mom. There are all kinds of different groups or meetups with everything from bowling clubs to people just wanting to make friends in a new city. Another app I've heard great things about is the Supper Club App- and try new great food in the process!

2. Volunteer- Don't just sign up for anything that comes along, but take time to volunteer for something you're truly passionate about. This way, you'll be doing a good deed while meeting people that share similar interests as you. In all cities, there are a ton of volunteer opportunities. Whether it's signing up for a 5K, food pantry, or an animal shelter, there are a lot of great places to volunteer. Hospitals (especially ones with a kid's unit) always love new people to come in and help with various things, and so do park restoration projects. You'll feel good about what you're doing and as a bonus, it's a great way to make new friends. Zach and I both volunteered after Hurricane Harvey and met so many amazing people that we now consider friends.

3. Weekly work-out class- Okay let me be completely honest here and say that this is not something I've done. If you know me personally you know that I'm not a big work-out person (at all), and Zach and I dropped our gym membership a year after getting it and only going a handful of times (back when we were engaged). That said, I have a TON of friends that this has worked for so I know it's a successful tactic when it comes to meeting new people! The key is scheduling a class that you're not rushed to attend because it's key to arrive a little early and stay a little late in order to chat with people and make conversation. People who prioritize fitness automatically have a mutual interest as well as similar personality traits, so if you're one who likes yoga or spinning, this is a great way to make new friends.

4. Church- This is an obvious one if you're a church-goer because you'll already be joining a new church and the members will likely be very warm and friendly. But even if you're not a Sunday regular, sign your kids up for a Wednesday night program or check out activities a church near you hosts. Our church has a great fall festival with a carnival, rides, meals, etc. and it's an easy way to get out and meet new people in a safe, welcoming environment.

5. Hang out at public places. This sounds a bit odd, but it's worked well for me in the past and looking back I'm surprised at how many friends I've made just by hanging out at local coffee shops (Starbucks are always busy) and the swimming pool at both our old apartment and current neighborhood. Anywhere people are relaxing and lounging is a good spot to strike up a conversation and meet other people that could lead to potential friendships.

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Hopefully, I didn't ramble too much and actually made some sense with those points! We feel really lucky to have amazing friends in Houston and it's funny how once you make a little effort, things start falling into place. The original playgroup that we joined through the meetup app ended up branching off into a separate playgroup, where I've met other mamas who I'm really close to as well. Once you put yourself out there and just go for it, you'll be surprised at how easy it is to make friends, even in a big city. Shelbi, whom I'm pictured with above, actually reached out to me over Instagram via DM and we decided to meet up for lunch when we realized she worked close to our house. The rest is history and now she's one of my best friends. Thanks, Instagram!

It’s that time of year, everything is alive and beautiful again and strawberries are in season! I get so excited about cooking with fresh ingredients. Last weekend I went to the farmer’s market and picked up a bunch of strawberries and had the itch to make these little shortcakes.

When I was a little girl I used to love to play in the garden! My mom planted all kinds of vegetables and picking them was my favorite thing to do. Recently, a friend and I went to pick strawberries and it reminded me of being a little girl with no worries of getting dirt all over me and having the reward of picking something right off the vine. I think it’s so cool to see where our food comes from. It certainly makes me appreciate it a lot more.

These Strawberry Shortcakes are the epitome of fresh food. Made from scratch cakes, freshly picked berries and a little bit of whipped cream all make the perfect warm-weather dessert! I hope you enjoy.

Strawberry Shortcakes

INGREDIENTS

1 pound strawberries, stemmed and quartered

1 tbsp raw sugar

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp raw sugar

5 tbsp vegan butter

1 ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk

whipped cream

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a bowl mix the strawberries and 1 tbsp sugar. Refrigerate while preparing the shortcakes.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Put parchment paper onto a baking sheet and set aside. In a sifter, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in 2 tbsp sugar. Using a fork or pastry cutter, mix cold butter into the flour mixture until it has a grainy texture. Stir in almond milk. Place the dough onto a floured surface and flatten to about ¼ inch thick. Use a round glass or biscuit cutter to cut out circles and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Cook in the oven for about 17-20 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Allow to cool and assemble with prepared strawberries and whipped cream.

I am super excited to share my new favorite summer outfit from Marleylilly! They have a huge sale going on and you even get a FREE Monogrammed gift with a purchase! I am obsessed with everything on their website…literally! I’m actually ordering more things for vacation this summer like this swimsuit, this sun hat in white, and a beach coverup.

As you can probably tell all over Instagram, wicker purses are the biggest summer trend! I love carrying them because they are super lightweight, easy to carry and really cute! I especially love this one because it has tassels on the straps and my monograms.

I have always loved a good floppy hat. I always tell my friends, if I could get away wearing big hats and fascinators every day I would totally wear them with every outfit! Watching the royal wedding a few weeks ago, gave me major envy! Wearing floppy hats by the pool is a staple for me, especially because I burn so easy! This one even has sun protection!

A personal favorite is monogrammed sandals. I use them to dress up an outfit or add personality, especially with the interchangeable patterns! Click hereto see what other patterns you can get with the sandals other than your initials and they are very affordable.

Thank you to Marleylilly for sponsoring today's post! All thoughts and opinions are my own and I will be purchasing some of my own!

I recently posted about why a staycation is always a good idea & today I am partnering with Babbleboxx to share some of the very best products that are perfect for a staycation (or vacation...or really anytime....). I recently got to stay at the beautiful Hotel Alessandra and I'll give you a peek inside my bag at some of what I brought!

1. OMM Thickening Hair Mask & Thickening Oil- Ever since having Boone, I've been losing a lot of hair and what I do have feels pretty dull and lifeless. I've been using the OMM hair mask & oil and it has helped so much with my dull and lifeless hair post-baby! I LOVE how the products smell; the hydrating hair mask has a jasmine scent that leaves my hair smelling amazing for several days between washes.

2. My Ex Life book- Y'all know that I am a big bookworm and love to read, but I don't get a lot of time to finish novels these days with two little boys. Let me just say, I finished My Ex Lifein less than two days because I could not put it down. The author, Stephen McCauley, did such a great job creating characters that really pull you into the plot and keep you turning the pages long past when you need to sleep (3am, in my case). If you aren't familiar with McCauley, he also wrote The Object of my Affection which was later made into a film starring Jennifer Anniston and Paul Rudd.

3. Bali Comfort Revolution Bra- Finding bras is a bit of a challenge for me at the moment since I'm breastfeeding, but I don't like spending a fortune on nursing bras that will only be worn for a year or so. That's what I love about the Bali Comfort Revolution- it works for nursing and then I can continue wearing it long after! It's seamless but has great support- I love wearing it with tank tops and tees during the hot summer months.

4. Faustino I Gran Reserva- I'm not much of a drinker but I had to try this wine since Bodegas Faustino is Spain's largest producer of Gran Reserva wines, which are aged for 26 months in French and American oak barrels and then at least 3 years in the bottle. So much goes into the creation of this wine- it's truly an art form and you can tell in the taste. I typically prefer something sweeter but it pairs well with steak and goes down so smoothly!

5. Bellame- I have wanted to try Bellame products for a while now and am now a huge fan of both the Acqua Lumiere Hydrating Moisturizer and Acqua Lumiere Hydrating Eye Cream. Eye creams have never worked that well for me until this one- I could visibly notice a reduction in my dark circles after just two uses! I apply the moisturizer in the morning and at night after I shower, and my skin has never felt softer. You can receive a free set of ultra-luxe Bellame bamboo sourced washcloths with the purchase of the Acqua Lumiere Collection.

6. Erin's Faces Deet-Free Mosquito Repellent & Sunstick SPF 30- With two little boys, we are constantly outside and mosquitos have been awful in Houston lately with all the rain we've had. I've been taking this Mosquito Repellentwith us to the park and my boys don't get eaten alive, which makes me feel so much better about taking them outside (which they love!). I'm also obsessed with the Erin's Faces Sunstick- I love that it's cruelty-free and is so easy to just throw in my diaper bag/beach bag. It's gentle enough for both Bear and Boone and goes on so much easier than the spray kind.

And now I'm craving another staycation...thankfully we have lots of mini vacays coming up in July that I'm so excited for! And all my new fav Babbleboxx products will definitely be coming along for the ride. :)

Hope you're having a great week! Does it feel like Wednesday to anyone else? Thankfully it's only Tuesday because I have a lot to do and can use that extra day I keep forgetting about!

The Monogrammed Life

Welcome to The Monogrammed Life, a fashion and lifestyle blog owned by Marleylilly - Monogrammed Gifts! Thanks for stopping by! We hope you'll stick around and find some inspiration here. Peace, love, and monograms!